Compartmented container formed from blanks



1968 D. A. PRIEST ETAL 3,355,112

COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER FORMED FROM BLANKS Filed June 30,1966 5Sheets-Sheet. l

[Ml Ewe: 004/440 4. Pens-37 ATTOEn/EYJ T 'j' F] I Q I w I R3 N x i i 32Ni v: t v I 1 Jan. 23, 1968 D. A. PRIEST ETAL 3,365,112

COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER FORMED FROM BLANKS Filed June so, 1966 5Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTORS Jan. 23, 1968 11 PR|E$T ETAL 3,365,112

COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER FORMED FROM BLANKS Filed June 30, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet I5 [IVE/T625 Dan A40 A. Pezssr fawneo 1-. MAI/V0606 Len/Mdesk:

Jan. 23, 1968 D. A. PRIEST. ETAL 3,365,112

COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER FORMED FROM BLANKS Filed June 50, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet 4 m [own/e0 F. MA/aa as Few/1v 00566 D. PRIEST ETAL3,365,112

Jan. 23, 1968 COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER FORM ED FROM BLANKS 5 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed June 30, 1966 Arraeyars United States Patent 3,365,112(IQMPARTMENTED CONTAINER FGIZMED FRGM BLANKS Donald A. Priest, MiamiSprings, Fla, and Edward F. Manogue, Cincinnati, and Erwin Doerr,Fortsrnouth,

Ghio, assignors to The ll iead Corporation, Dayton,

@hio, a corporation of Ghio Filed June 31), 1965, fies. No. 551,858 6Claims. (Ci. 229-23) This invention relates to containers for shippingand/ or storing commodities such as farm produce and the like and, moreparticularly, to a compartmented container formed from blanks of paperproducts such as corrugated or solid paperboard, fiberboard, boxboardand the like.

Containers of such general type are known and have been employedsuccessfully. In general, two prior types have been employed. One suchtype has divider portions which are inserted into an ordinary box orother container to provide the desired compartmentation. In another suchtype, telescoping inner and outer structures were employed together withinsert partitions to provide the compartmentation. Insofar as applicantis aware, all such prior containers are subject to one or moredisadvantages which may include difiiculty in or cost of manufactureand/or assembly, shipping and/or storage of empty containers per se,cost of and/ or excessive waste blank material, and inadequatestructural strength.

Accordingly, a general object of the invention is to provide an improvedcontainer and to obviate the above mentioned difficulties.

Another object is to provide a two-piece compartmented containerstructure that is extremely durable and is of rugged and novelconstruction to provide improved load withstanding characteristics.

A further object is to provide an improved partitioned container havingvertically adjustable walls to compensate for settling of certaincommodities that may be placed therein and having improved strengthcharacteristics for withstanding heavy compression loads imposed thereonwhen pluralities of loaded containers are placed on one another instacked relationship.

Still another object is to provide an improved container havingreinforcing panels and which can be formed with a minimum of wastematerial from substantially rectangular blanks of a paper product.

A further object is to provide an improved container having elementsthat can be shipped or stored in a flat or folded condition, and whichis easily assembled and in which certain manufacturing steps areeliminated.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a box embodimentof the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the body portion of FIGURE1 is formed;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View illustrating an intermediate stage ofassembly of the body portion;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a blank from which the outer shell portion ofFIGURE 1 is formed;

FIGURE 5 is a view illustrating an intermediate step in the erection ofthe outer shell portion;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the fully erected outer shell portion;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view, partly exploded, illustrating a modifiedembodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a blank from which the outer shell portionsof FIGURE 7 are formed; and

FIGURE 9 is a view illustrating an intermediate step in the erection ofan outer shell portion of FIGURE 8.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a container in accord- 3,3d5,ll2 PatentedJan. 23, 1968 ance with the invention includes a body portion 10 whichfunctions as a bottom support member and also as a partial receptaclefor commodities to be carried by and in the container. Body portion 16is formed from a blank (FIGURE 2) indicated generally at 11. Blank 11 issubstantially rectangular in shape and is arranged into a plurality ofuseiul panels in a manner as to keep waste material to a minimum.

lank 11 comprises a bottom panel 12 which is foldably connected at itsopposite sides along score lines 13, 14 to an upper and lower series ofpanels 15, 16. The upper series 15 includes a middle panel 17 which isfoldably connected along score lines 13, 1? to end panels 20, 21,respectively. Similarly, the lower series 16 includes a middle panel 22which is foldably connected at its ends to end panels 23, 24 along scorelines 25, 26, respectively. A flap panel 27 is foldably connected to endpanel 2 3 along a score line 2% and a similar flap panel 29 is similarlyconnected to end panel 24 along a score line 31 The adjacent edges ofbottom panel 12 and flap panels 27, 2h are separated by cut lines 31, 32respectively.

Each of end panels 2t 21, 23, 24 is provided with an opening 33, 34, 35,36, respectively. These openings are disposed so that openings 33 and 35will be in registry and openings 34 and 36 will similarly be inregistered relation when the body portion is assembled and erected aswill appear more particularly hereinafter.

Each of the middle panels 17 and 22 is provided with a slot 37, 38,respectively, which extends inwardly from the respective edges 3?, 40 ofpanels 17, 22 to a point about halfway between edge 39 and score linev13 and substantially halfway between edge 4% and score line 14 as thecase may be. If desired, to facilitate assembly, the corners of slots37, 38 may be cut away as at 41, 42, 43, 44.

Body portion 14) is assembled by first bending flap panels 27, 29upwardly along their respective score lines 28, 3d, then bending ends23, 24 along lines 25, 26, and then bending middle panel 22 upwardlyalong score line 14. At this stage of partial assembly, each of flappanels 27, 29 overlies one half of bottom panel 12; and together, theycompletely overlie bottom panel 12 and thereby from a two-ply bottom ifpanel 12 is rectangular in shape. If panel 12 is square rather thanrectangular, one of panels 2'7, 2? will overlie the other and, together,both will completely overlie bottom panel 12 to thereby form a three-plybottom. Together with the two or threeply bottom thus formed, the thenupstanding end panels 23, 24 and middle panel 22 form opposed ends andone side of the partially assembled body portion 10, as is best shown inFIGURE 3 (rotated relative to FIG- URE 2).

The assembly of body portion 10 is completed by bending middle panel 17upwardly along score line 13 and then bending end panels 20, 21 inwardlyalong score lines 18, 19 into overlying relationship with end panels 23,24 respectively. The completed body portion 10 thus formed comprises atwo or a three-ply bottom formed by panels 12, 27, 29, two-ply endsformed by panels 21 23 and 21, 24 respectively, and sides formed bypanels 17 and 22, respectively. For reasons which will appear as thedescription proceeds, it is not necessary to provide means for securingtogether the various panels of the body portion it). However, ifdesired, additional securing means such as glue, adhesive tape,stitching, etc., may be employed, without departing from the invention,to connect together, for example, panels 21 and 24- and/or panels 2t?and 23.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1 also includes ashell portion 5t which is formed from a blank indicated generally at 51(FIGURE 4). Blank 51 is substantially rectangular in shape and comprisesa plurality of panels 52-57 inclusive foldably interconnected by scorelines 58-62 inclusive. Panels 53 and 55 are each provided with anopening 63 and 64, respectively, each of which is similarly shaped andis adapted to register with either openings 33, 35 or openings 34, 36when assembled. For reasons which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, panel 57 is provided with slots 65, 66. The outermost sides ofslots 65, 66 are substantially aligned with score lines 62 and 67 asindicated at 65a and 66a, and a flap panel 6'5 is foldably connected topanel 57 along score line 67.

Optionally, shell portion 50 may be provided with cover means includinga plurality of cover flaps. In such case, blank 51 also includes flaps69-73 inclusive foldably connected to panels 52-56 inclusive along scoreline 74 with each such flap being separated from an adjacent flap bycuts 75-78 inclusive.

Shell portion 50 is assembled by bending panel 52 along score line 58.Panels 53-56 are then similarly bent, all in the same direction, alongscore lines 59-62, respectively. Flap panel 68 is then bent along scoreline 67, in the opposite direction of bending, so that panels 56, 57 and68 from a Z-shaped configuration as is best shown in FIGURE 1. Theoverlapped portions of flap panel 68 and panel 54 and also panels 52 and56 are secured together by any convenient securing means such as glue,adhesive tape, stitching, etc. As illustrated, glue is applied to oneface of panel 68 and is similary applied to the opposite face of panel56 adjacent the edge 65:! of slot 65 and adjacent score line 62 tosecure together panels 54 and 68 and also panels 52 and 56.

The assembly of the complete container is then accomplished bytelescoping shell portion 50 over the body portion 10. The lowerportions of panels 17 and 22 are received by slots 65, 66 in panel 57which thus forms a partition wall which divides the container into twoseparate compartments. Similarly, the upper portion of panel 57 isreceived by slots 37, 38.

Thus, containers in accordance with the invention have greatly improvedstrength characteristics for several reasons. As noted above, the bottomof the container is of either two or three-ply construction dependingupon the specific shape of bottom panel 12. When shell portion 59 istelescoped over the body portion 10, the end walls of the container areof three-ply construction provided by bottom portion end panels 20, 23and shell portion panel 53 and the similar three-ply constructionprovided at the opposite end of the container. Because the shell portionis telescoped over the body portion, the need for additional securingmeans for the body portion is obviated although such securing means maybe employed if desired. Additionally, the side walls of the containerare of two ply construction provided by panels 17, 54 and panels 22, 52,56. When assembled in the manner described above, each of the containerside walls is a substantially continuous and unbroken wall throughoutits extent and over about half of its height and yet is adjustable inheight in an amount approximating about one half of the height thereof.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 7-9inclusive in which like elements bear like designations. The bodyportion 10, blank 11, and the construction, assembly, etc., thereof areidentical with that illustrated and described in connection with FIGURES1-6 inclusive. The embodiment shown in FIGURES 7-9 differs primarily inthe shell portions 50a. Two identical shell portions 50a are providedwhich are utilized and which function in substantially the same manneras shell portion 50, but, since two identical shell portions 50a areprovided, the embodiment shown in FIGURES 7-9 provides a means wherebythe height of the side and end walls of the separate compartments of thecontainer may be individually adjusted independently of the othercompartment.

Shell portion 50a is formed from a substantially rectangular blank 79arranged into a plurality of useful panels 80-84 by scores lines -88.Panel 80 is provided with an opening 89 similar in shape to and adaptedto register with openings 33-36 when the container is assembled. Panel82 is provided with slots 98, 91 therein of similar shape anddisposition as slots 65, 66 except that the outermost edges of slots 90,91 are substantially aligned with score lines 8-6, 87 as indicated at90a, 91a.

Shell portion 50a is assembly by bending seriatim panels 80-84 alongscore lines 85-88 respectively with panels 80 and 84 in overlappedrelationship as is best shown in FIGURE 9. The overlapped panels 89 and84 are secured together by any convenient securing means such as glue,adhesive tape, stitching, etc. Assembly of the complete container isthen accomplished by telescoping shell portion 50a over one half of bodyportion 10 substantially in the manner described above in connectionwith the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1. The lower portions ofpanels 17 and 22 are received by slots 99, 91 in panel 82 which thusforms one half of a partition Wall which divides the container into twoseparate compartments. A second shell portion 50a is similarlytelescoped over the other half of body Portion 19 to complete theassembly of a container having all of the advantages noted above inconnection with FIGURE 1 and having the additional advantage ofincreased strength provided by double thickness of the divider panelsince the panels 82 of each of the shell portions Stla are inface-to-face relation and are maintained in such relation by slots 37,38- into which they are received. As noted heretofore, the embodimentshown in FIGURE 7 has the further advantage of providing individual andseparate height adjustment of each of the separate compartments of thecompleted container. Alternatively, if desired, the individual panels 82of the individual shell portions Stla may be foldably or otherwiseconnected by gluing or stitching, etc., to form a unitary shell portionsimilar to shell portion 50 but differing in that such unitary shellportion has a double thickness or two-ply divider partition instead ofthe single thickness of panel 57.

Thus containers in accordance with the invention have greatly improvedstrength and rigidity characteristics as noted heretofore. Additionally,the components of such containers may be shipped and stored in a flat orfolded condition and may be partially or completely assembled by a user.For example, shell portions secured together and shipped in a foldedcondition merely require an unfolding operation and a telescopingoperation to make the container ready for use. A further advantageresides in the fact that containers constructed of corrugated materialand in accordance with the invention obtain additional strength benefitsbecause the direction of the corrugations or flutes can be verticallydisposed in all of the side and end walls of the container therebyproviding still additional stacking strength thereto.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made without departing from theinvention and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all suchchanges and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed:

1. A two-piece compartmented container comprising a body portion havinga bottom panel with end and side panels connected thereto, said sidepanels having disposed midway between the ends thereof a slot extendingdownwardly from the upper edges of said side panels to a location aboutmidway between said upper edges and said bottom panel; and a shellwherein the walls of said shell has disposed at each of the side edgesthereof a slot extending upwardly from the bottom edge of said walls atleast to a height corresponding to said location fittingly engaging arespective side panel, and telescoped over said body portion andcomprising a tubular sleeve and having a wall slidably and fittinglyengaged within said slots and dividing said body portion intocompartments and with said end and said side panels being encompassed bysaid shell.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said side panels and said bodyportion are foldably connected to said bottom panel along opposite sidesthereof, end panels are foldably connected to opposite ends of one ofsaid panels, and other end panels having bottom reinforcing panelsfoldably connected thereto are foldably connected to opposite ends ofthe other side panel.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said wall is connected to andbetween opposite sides of said shell.

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said shell is of two piececonstruction consisting of a pair of tubular sleeves.

5. Structure according to claim 4 wherein each of said sleeves comprisesa plurality of interconnected panels and 6 wherein said wall comprisesone panel of each of said sleeves.

6. Structure according to claim 5 wherein individual panels of each ofsaid sleeves are interconnected to form a wall of double thickness and aunitary shell structure combination.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,316,457 4/ 1943 Royce.2,401,742 6/ 1946 Bentham. 3,049,279 8/ 1962 Mairs et. a1 229-273,058,643 10/1962 Wilson. 3,202,337 8/1965 Cramer et. al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,030,573 5/ 1966 Great Britain.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

1. A TWO-PIECE COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER COMPRISING A BODY PORTION HAVINGA BOTTOM PANEL WITH END AND SIDE PANELS CONNECTED THERETO, SAID SIDEPANELS HAVING DISPOSED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENDS THEREOF A SLOT EXTENDINGDOWNWARDLY FROM THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID SIDE PANELS TO A LOCATION ABOUTMIDWAY BETWEEN SAID UPPER EDGES AND SAID BOTTOM PANEL; AND A SHELLWHEREIN THE WALLS OF SAID SHELL HAS DISPOSED AT EACH OF THE SIDE EDGESTHEREOF A SLOT EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID WALLS ATLEAST TO A HEIGHT CORRESPONDING TO SAID LOCATION FITTINGLY ENGAGING ARESPECTIVE SIDE PANEL, AND TELESCOPED OVER SAID BODY PORTION ANDCOMPRISING A TUBULAR SLEEVE AND HAVING A WALL SLIDABLY AND FITTINGLYENGAGED WITHIN SAID SLOTS AND DIVIDING SAID BODY PORTION INTOCOMPARTMENTS AND WITH SAID END AND SAID SIDE PANELS BEING ENCOMPASSED BYSAID SHELL.